New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-05
HIGH LICENSE IN ILLINOIS.


High License have constantly referred to Chi
cago and Illinois for proof Of tho failure Of
tho principle. DR.. Funk went 80 far as to citc
statistics, the purport Of which was that drunk
or ness. or rather arrests for drunkenness. had
Increased in Chicago nndor High License. The
Chicago Tribune" Of the 21st instant deals
with these statements and demonstrates their
falsity. AS to DR.. Funk's figures, they wero
made to present a wholly fallacious aspect by
ignoring the growth Of population in Chicago
and tho increase Of the police force Of tho city ;
two facts which. when taken into account at
once overthrow the conclusion sought to be
established. '"The Tribune" says that "For
these and other reasons the statistics cited are
absolutely worthless "a proving any failure OF
High License In Chicago; and 1t adds.
f"Without this law Chicago would have to-day
| 1000 more saloons than 1t has. and they would
be doggcries Of the worst class, and, owing to
their great number. comparatively free from
police surveillance. In Illinois High License
has closed 4.cOO saloons. and under the Local
Option law Of Illinois Prohibition has been so
generally established by rural communities that
it is now the rule over two-thirds Of the soil
of tho State. In thirty or forty counties
scarcely an open saloon exists The Local
Option law working in cooperation with High
License appears to produce practically whole
somc results everywhere and the friends of
temperance in this State should take note Of
the facts
Tho experience Of Illinois in fighting the
drink evil is Of direct importance TO us at the
present moment. Ono month Of actual test
is better counsellor than years of unvcrifcd
speculation. The Chicago Tribune" points
ont that feature Of the Illinois law overlooked
in the discussions before tho Assembly Excise
Committee NJ Albany is THIS That all munic-
qualities may increase the tax as much over
$500 rs the local sentiment supports Scores
Of cities and towns in Illinois imposed n tax
ranging from 5000 TO $2OOO on saloons.
Where a $1,000 tax L. cXactcd the effect is
to shrink up dozen or a score Of liquor-shops
into one. TWO or three and il such tax docs not
prove sufficiently prohibtory to suit tho pre-
valling sentiment. the people elect County
Supervisors. or Town Councils or Village Trus-
tees who refuse to grant licenses on any
terms" Tho application of the Local Option
principle TO the country districts has the effect
Of adjusting the liquor law as exactly rs is pos
siblc TO the prevailing tone Of public scni-
ancc for its effectiveness is given in the COM
Tletc acqnicsccncc of the majority. There is a
feature in the Crosby bill which 1.-The Chicago
Tribune thinks not likely to work well,
however. and that is the graded system Of
licenses. 1t says Of this Doubtless a dis
elimination against saloons selling hard
liquors would Ic wise if 1T could lie enforced.
but all experience shows it 10 b. imprIcticablc.
= license for tho sale Of malt liquors affords
cloak under which the traffic in al kinds can
lie successfully carried on in evasion Of the
law In Illinois cit was found necessary by
the local authorities TO make the rate Of tax
Uniform"
"Thc Tribune" holds that '"Ncw- York can
not do better than adopt tho Dramshop act of
Illinois rs amended 10y the principle Of high
license and strengthened by local option. H.
lnois has the hest general liquor law Of any
STATE in the Union ono adapted to rural COM
munitics cs we'll rs to large cities, and which
furnishes every locality all the restriction it Is
possible TO enforce The system here pro-
posed pas worked well not only in Illinois but
In Missouri where a Prohibition amendment
has Just been thrown out 10y the State Senate
because the High License laws (Which include
local option) provide all the restriction that
can tc made effective. As evidence accum.
ulatrs on the subject il is to he observed that
the practical arguments for High License ap-
pear stronger. 1t is not the failure alleged by |
the Prohibitionists but II is n success. Its |
friends. however. will do well to draw sug
gcstions from the communities and States which |
have tested it, Tho statements Of "Thc Chi |
cago Tribune on the results in Illinois have |
an important hearing upon local legislation.
What is dcmandcd here is the utmost possible |
restriction and diminuton OF the evils of drink.
and all rublic-sprited citizens and true friends
Of temperance and progress will unite to push
forward whatever measure on the High License
basis offers the suIcst remedy for the evil.
Mayor Hewitt says that his feelings were sin no
respect laccrated" by the unlSind treatment ac-